Senior Finance Officer at Norwegian Church Aid ('NCA')

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Department / division / team: Finance department
Reporting to: Finance Manager

Job Purpose

• The purpose of this position is to ensure adequate support to the finance department and serve as one of the key personnel to NCA finance systems and management.
• He/she will serve as key personnel to support the organization in achieving its goal and mission in their response to the humanitarian needs in Nigeria.

Main Duties

• Managing all aspects of day-to-day operations of accounting department in field office.
• Assist and work closely with the finance manager in the implementation of Finance policies, procedures and systems.
• Ensure compliance with NCA finance and donor procedures and guidelines.
• Submit expenditure worksheets to the Finance manager early first week every subsequent month
• Responsible to partners for financial reporting and ensuring it aligns with NCA and donor regulations and processes/procedures
• Ensure NCA vendors/supplier and partners are paid not more than one week after delivery of service to ensure prompt delivery of service to beneficiaries by our partners/suppliers
• Responsible for preparing checks for payments except when delegated by finance manager to other finance staff.
• Work closely with Admin-finance officer to ensure staff and casual workers’ salaries/stipends are paid not later that 20th every month.
• Review all payment documents for proper and adequate back up/supporting documents.
• Review expenditure worksheets for accuracy and completeness.
• Liaison with Logistics, Administration to prepare commitment lists every month for financial obligations already entered into but not captured in financial reports.
• Preparer a bank reconciliation for country office and send it to finance manager by 3rd every month to be sent to Head office.
• Liaise with NCA operating banks on all banking issues.
• Ensure that statutory deductions are paid on time to avoid any penalty
• Forward to the payroll Administrator/finance manager every month, an outstanding personnel advances and charges related to personnel for recovery. Ensure that advances/float taken in a given month are liquidated appropriately.
• Conduct a time sheet audit for field office staff from time to time to ensure compliance.

Administrative duties:

• Supervise all activities done daily in the Accounts department and make sure they are in accordance with NCA finance systems and make know to the finance manager any challenge in ensuring this.

Logistics duties:

• Review all Procurement documents and documentations to ensure they are in line with NCA processes and procedures and also aligning with donor requirements. These includes but not limited to Purchase orders, Request for quotation, bid analysis, purchase request number, and also for budget accuracy before approval by finance manager.
• In liaison with Logistics department, prepare commitment lists every month for financial obligations already entered into but not captured in financial reports.
• Ensure all staff are aware of minimum required documents to be attached for finance to accept for payment.

Finance/Budgeting:

• Act at all times in accordance with local law and standards of accounting practice.
• Review with the objective of gaining a clear understanding budget guidelines and instructions
• Review funding allocations to enable proper guidance to programs and proper coding.
• Provide training to program staff on finance issues.
• Receptive to training provided and to develop his or her technical and professional competence.
• Produce monthly and quarterly reports to be reviewed by Finance Manager
• Assist in budget preparation at the field level.

Security/Communication:

• Communicate with Finance main office/head of mission or finance manager on security issues within the office and outside the office
• Report to the Finance Manager any irregularities that occur within the NCA office, staff compound and sites on policy and procedures.

Coordination:

• In coordination with supervisor, work with other departments to ensure NCA’s Goal and objectives are achieved.

Common duties:

• Attend and participate in trainings identified/organized by your supervisor
• Follow any new procedures and guidelines designated in circulars from Head of Mission
• Report any violations of the NCA Act Alliance Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Code of Conduct (in-country and World-wide) as per the NCA reporting mechanism. The reporting of violations is an obligation on the part of all staff members as described by NCA and its ACT members
• Assist where necessary in undertaking activities that aim to prevent the occurrence of sexual abuse and exploitation of refugees by NCA and other humanitarian workers.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by your supervisor

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Advance Diploma in Accounting from recognized University/Institutions with a minimum of three (3) years of accounting experience.
• Computer literate with significant experience in excel, accounting package knowledge with at least three will be an added advantage.

Required knowledge, skills, experience, and qualification:

• Proven experience in similar function or more desirable.
• Bachelor or Masters degree in accounting and financial management
• Aware of and able to use two to three financial software systems.
• Three and above years’ experience in similar position
• Good knowledge of relevant Nigerian legislation governing International NGOs
• Fluency in English, additional fluency in Hausa and Kanuri an advantage.
• Good interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships with all staff within the Trust and key stakeholders externally.
• Able to communicate effectively at all levels within the organisation, including relevant staff working for the NCA.
• Good skills with experience of operating computer-based financial management systems. Competent to advanced level in Microsoft Excel.
• Willingness and ability to take the initiative not only in identifying problems but also in suggesting and implementing solutions.
• Willingness to travel and stay in remote areas as required.